A quick catch-up before Easter

I've finished two books since my March wrap-up post. First up, The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell.

Afghanistan veteran, Roger Mulligan, is desperate for a job. He applies for a position as a butler-come-carer to an elderly man, Joseph Shackleford. His neice thinks the old man has dementia because he thinks he's a wizard. And indeed he is showing signs of that horrible disease, not always knowing who people are, not remembering recent events, that kind of thing. And then a friend lets slip about an amulet and Mulligan discovers that Shackleford is indeed wearing such a necklace and is told by him in his more lucid moments that it is stealing his mind and if he takes it off he will die. Mulligan is not inclined to believe him of course... until he realises that the massive house he's living in never needs cleaning and the garden is neat and tidy without the aid of a gardener. 'Pixies', he's told. The niece has hired Mulligan for one year after which she wants her uncle in a care home with his house razed to the ground and the land sold for condos. The big problem with that plan is that Mulligan has become rather attached to the old man... So, this was a recommendation from a friend that I was very pleased to get as it was something a bit different: not your usual fantasy offering. We follow Roger quite closely as he learns how to do his new butlering job. There's a lot of detail and you might think it would be tedious, but it's not at all. The book certainly isn't 'high' fantasy, it's more based on everyday life where ordinary people don't know that there are a few people with 'talent' who can do unusual things. Sometimes the people who have a talent are not aware of it either. The setting is a big city somewhere, I don't think it was actually stated, and the house is old, old, old and quite a character in its own right. The main plot is that of the awful niece and her shenanigans but there were a lot of other things to enjoy in this first book of a new series. I look forward to book 2. I gather Nathan Lowell is known more for his sci-fi so I'll try those at some stage. 

Next, The Horned God: Weird Tales of the Great God Pan edited by Michael Wheatley.

This is another of the British Library's 'Weird Tales' collections. There're 16 contributions altogether, a mix of short stories and poems. Authors include Arthur Machen whose story The Great God Pan, from 1894, is thought to be the one all the subsequent stories sprang from. A mad scientist type opperates on a young woman's brain and the story meanders around telling what happened to various men when they married a predatory woman. It's an odd tale, very well told and I discovered it was best not to jump to conclusions. I found the rest of the collection to be a bit patchy, some good stories, some I was not as keen on, and various poems which are not really my thing. An exerpt from The Wind in the Willows, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was well worth a reread even though I only read it back in November. Very atmospheric. The Music on the Hill by Saki was a creepy tale along the lines of 'Be careful what you wish for'. I'd read The Story of a Panic by E.M. Forster before but it's well worth a reread this story of a group of people staying in a villa in Italy and an outing they go on to the forest. The atmosphere of oppressive heat is almost tangible. I usually like Algernon Blackwood's weird tales but I thought, A Touch of Pan was not one of his best. The Golden Bough by an unknown author to me, David H. Keller, was very good, recounting a newly wedded couple's search for a house the wife has seen in a dream. They find it eventually in the midst of a forest and what happens makes for an atmospheric, claustrophobic tale. As I said, I found this collection to be a bit mixed - the writing was never less than excellent though and it was interesting reading various authors' take on The Great God Pan.

We're having visitors for a few days over Easter so not a lot of reading will get done I suspect. I won't be choosing a new fiction book but will just meander along with these two non-fictions for a while.

Mail Obsession: A Journey Around Britain by Postcode by Mark Mason tracks the author's quest to visit all 124 postcode areas in the UK. This is perfect for anyone who loves quirky facts and I've laughed a 'lot'. 

Sorry I'm Late, I didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan charts what happens when a shy introvert tries to get herself out of her comfort zone for a year. I've only just started this but so far it involves starting conversations with strangers (trains, buses etc.) and speaking in public to an audience. I bought this because I thought it sounded interesting and it is. I am an introvert too, but not a shy one, I have no problem talking to strangers though having to give a speech would terrify me as much as it terrifies the author. I must admit I do like this kind of psychology, non-fiction read. 

Anyway, I hope you're all well, finding lots of good books to read and if you celebrate Easter then - Happy Easter!